Squirrels' Winning Streak Ends in Heartbreaker at Hartford

Richmond leaves 14 runners on base in 6-5 loss to Yard Goats

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:20am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in a vibrant color palette.The Flying Squirrels' late-inning rally falls short, snapping their impressive winning streak in a close defeat to the Yard Goats.Hartford Today

The Richmond Flying Squirrels saw their franchise-record 10-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday night with a 6-5 loss to the Hartford Yard Goats at Dunkin Park. The Flying Squirrels stranded 14 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded three times, in the narrow defeat.

Why it matters

The Flying Squirrels had been one of the hottest teams in Minor League Baseball, riding a double-digit winning streak. This loss, while disappointing, shows the team's resilience and ability to compete even when not at their best. It also highlights the fine margins between winning and losing at the professional level.

The details

Richmond jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Aeverson Arteaga, but Hartford responded with four runs in the bottom half to take a 4-1 advantage. Flying Squirrels starter Joe Whitman settled in after that, striking out seven over five innings. Adrian Sugastey and Bo Davidson each hit solo home runs to keep Richmond within striking distance, but the Yard Goats tacked on two more runs to make it 6-4. The Squirrels mounted a ninth-inning rally, scoring one run and loading the bases, but Hartford closer Davison Palermo recorded a strikeout to end the game.

  • The Flying Squirrels' 10-game winning streak was snapped on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • The series continues on Friday, April 18, 2026 at Dunkin Park in Hartford.

The players

Joe Whitman

The Flying Squirrels' starting pitcher, who struck out seven batters over five innings.

Adrian Sugastey

The Richmond outfielder who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Bo Davidson

The Flying Squirrels' slugger who launched a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his second of the series and fourth of the season.

Davison Palermo

The Hartford closer who recorded the final out to earn the save.

Konner Eaton

The Yard Goats' starting pitcher who worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We had our chances, but just couldn't capitalize. Credit to Hartford for making the plays when they needed to. We'll regroup and come back ready to go tomorrow.”

— Richmond Manager Russ Morman

What’s next

The series continues on Friday night at Dunkin Park. Right-hander Trystan Vrieling (0-0, 6.75) will start for Richmond, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. After the road trip, the Flying Squirrels return home to CarMax Park for a six-game series against the Somerset Patriots from April 21-26.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing end to their winning streak, the Flying Squirrels showed their resilience by continuing to battle and nearly completing a late-inning comeback. This loss serves as a reminder that even the hottest teams can be humbled on any given night in the competitive world of Minor League Baseball.